NAME: ___________________________________________________________

WRITING EXAM
I. Rewrite the sentences using the correct capitalization.
1. the city of sacramento is the capital of california.
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2. jennifer and peter will travel to russia to work in an orphanage.
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3. the jackson elementary school band will perform yankee doodle.
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4. my friend sally and i are reading the novel the phantom tollbooth.
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5. the train will stop in atlanta, montgomery, and jacksonville.
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6. nicole likes pepsi, but veronica and brandon prefer coke.
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7. the faces of four presidents are carved on mt. rushmore.
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8. are you going to go to celestes party on saturday?
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9. the new school year will begin in august or september.
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10. the american womens league meeting will be held on tuesday.
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11. we celebrate valentines day in february, not in october.
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12. sarah planned a christmas party at lakeshore park this december.

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II. Underline each letter that should be capitalized. Explain why it should
be capitalized.
1. you really only have one good chance to get an education.
Why capitalize_______________________________________________
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2. I'm going to the park with my friend kathy and my dog bart.
Why capitalize_______________________________________________
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3. Paul's class schedule said he was taking american history, spanish,
english, and math.
Why capitalize_______________________________________________
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4. Kyle tied up on his nike air force ones, ate a big mac, and drank a cherry
coke.
Why capitalize_______________________________________________
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5. The chicago river runs into the mississippi valley waterways.
Why capitalize_______________________________________________
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III. Put the commas where they belong. A few of these sentences are
already correct and do not need commas.
1. We are having peas and carrots roast beef and cake for dinner.
2. Mr. Morton my English teacher says we have to learn how to use
commas.
3. He says Remember Bob use commas before and after you address
someone directly.

4. Kelly said Did you do the homework Angie?

5. The teachers at Ericson Academy work hard to teach the students.
6. Alex painted the fence white blue and green.
7. We waited at the bus stop on Central Park Avenue after school.
8. My mom who is a nurse cares for the sick injured and disabled
9. One famous basketball player Michael Jordan won five MVP awards.
10. Dont go there said Formica.
11. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer of novels poems and
essays.
12. Now Mr. Bond we will saw you in half.
13. Tequita said Shut up talking to me Renisha.
14. Chicago the largest city in the Midwest is the home of the skyscraper
blues and deep-dish pizza.
15. No Jackie I dont want to go with Mark.
16. Alice said But they keep picking on me Rudy.
17. Emilio my next-door neighbor has two daughters a son and a puppy.

IV. Use quotation marks, capital letters, and any other punctuation necessary
to rewrite the following sentences correctly. Write Correct if the sentence
does not need any additional punctuation.
1) Are we there yet she asked.
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2) The engineer told us that the bridge would support the truck.
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3) The Charleston Cougars are playing the Cary Rail Hawks in soccer tonight.
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4) I am tired the boy said and then drifted off to sleep.
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5) We really should be going now she said.
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18. That Tuesday which also happens to be my birthday is the only day we

6) I received an incomplete on my homework because I forgot to write my name

on it.
can take the test.
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19. Fred who often cheats on his homework is really only harming himself. _________________________________________________________________
20. Brett Favre the quarter back for the team is having a bad week.

7) Whenever my mother claims to have an emergency, its usually nothing more

than a paper cut.
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8) Starry Night, by Van Gogh, is a beautiful painting.
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9) Excuse me he said do you have the time?

V. Fill in the missing colons and semicolons.
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_________________________________________________________________ 1) I gave you the spray bottles for one reason to clean the windows.
2) You will need the following ingredients milk, sugar, flour, and eggs.
10) The word chandler refers to someone who makes candles.
_________________________________________________________________ 3) Johann set the alarm clock for 6 00.
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4) My father ended every conversation the same way Dont give up.
5) Dear Mr. Kurasu of the Kiragowa Corporation
11) She said that she didnt know where she was going.
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6) Mix the oil and vinegar at a 1 2 ratio.
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7) I have invited the following people to my party Kevin, Amy, and Keeley.
12) Mommy can I have an apple he asked.
8) There is only one way to make it to the top hard work.
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_________________________________________________________________ 9)I am really tired however, I cannot get to sleep.
10) I want to wear the red shirt my favorite color is red.
13) The mother said that the obnoxious child simply had a lot of energy.
_________________________________________________________________ 11) Janie easily got an A on the test she studies very hard.
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12) I hope I get a lot of presents today is my birthday.
13) The war is imminent the armies are ready.
14) The judge told us that it would do us some good to spend a little time in
prison before sentencing us to 30 years.
14) The soldier shouted the following before leaving to war We shall return
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_________________________________________________________________ victorious!
15) James wondered if there was anybody home.
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16) The president yelled we must have peace
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17) Billy the kid was a famous western gunslinger.
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18) Jim said you can leave now Aunt June said.
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VI. Use apostrophes in the following sentences to make contractions.

1. I do not understand math.
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2. I will not go outside during storms.
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3. I am waiting for a call.
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4. Who is going to the movies?
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5. They are brother and sister.
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6. We could not receive our mail.
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7. You should not believe everything you hear.
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8. He will become president one day.
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9. I did not win the lottery.
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10. We are not new students.
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11. Where is the cat?
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